Cultural Differences Research Articles

The Intersection of Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Balinese and Digital Nomads

The adaptation of Balinese society to the presence of digital nomads involves a complex process of cross-cultural communication that extends beyond cultural aspects alone. The ways in which digital nomads and local residents interact and understand each other are influenced by various communication patterns they employ. Cultural differences, social norms, and language barriers impact how these two groups communicate. This research aims to provide a deeper understanding of how the Balinese society adapts to the presence of digital nomads, viewed through the lens of Young Yun Kim's cross-cultural adaptation theory. The research method used in this study is qualitative research. In conclusion, the cross-cultural adaptation between the Balinese society and digital nomads demonstrates that both groups can create a harmonious and mutually beneficial environment through open communication, mutual understanding, and a willingness to adapt

Lived Experiences of Migrant Fathers in the Perinatal Period: A Systematic Review and Analysis.

The worldwide population of migrant families is on the rise, and there is growing acknowledgement of the significance of supporting parental mental health within these families. However, understanding of the experiences of migrant fathers during the perinatal period remains incomplete. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of existing research on perinatal migrant fathers' experiences in different cultures. Multiple searches were conducted in April 2023 for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies across six electronic databases: Medline, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus. Fourteen eligible articles were identified, including nine qualitative studies, five quantitative studies, and no mixed-methods studies. The Mixed-methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess the quality of these studies. The quantitative findings were transformed into narrative summaries to be analysed thematically along with the qualitative data. Three themes were identified: (1) Cultural competence (dealing with cultural differences, needs related to original country); (2) Parenthood in a new country (challenges and adaptation to fatherhood, challenging traditional gender norms, lack of extended family and building new support networks, being the main supporter for the family); (3) Needs of the fathers and their personal difficulties. The findings of this review suggest a direction for future research in perinatal psychology. The review also provides insights into the need for social and community support for migrant fathers and how healthcare services can support this group during the perinatal period.

Assessing the deliverables of beyond-the-classroom engagement of management students: an outcome-oriented model approach

PurposeStudent engagement is a multifaceted concept that encompasses various dimensions that significantly influence students and their learning journey. This study aims to explore the extent of engagement among management students outside the confines of the classroom, specifically focusing on their engagement with the campus and community and assessing the outcomes resulting from this engagement.Design/methodology/approachThe literature review provided the basis for developing a student engagement framework, focusing on campus and community engagement and their outcomes. Established scales measured these variables through surveys administered to 386 UG and PG management students. In-depth analysis using PLS-SEM technique revealed the interplay of variables, beyond demographic and descriptive examinations.FindingsThe study found that campus and community engagement fosters a sense of responsibility. Campus engagement also cultivates long-term loyalty to the institution, while community engagement enhances social consciousness. Additionally, no significant differences in engagement levels were observed based on gender or educational level among management students.Research limitations/implicationsThe study faces limitations that need addressing for balanced understanding and future research guidance. Firstly, varying definitions across studies lead to inconsistent outcomes and comparability challenges. Secondly, accurate measurement is difficult due to reliance on self-reporting tools, which are prone to biases. Cultural and contextual differences also limit generalizability, and quantitative data alone may not capture the full picture. In India, identifying specific skills and competencies as engagement outcomes in outcome-based education is challenging, requiring precise variable identification.Practical implicationsThe study would contribute to improving the efficacy of efforts beyond the classroom engagement activities as it tests, validates, and projects them as outcome-driven by showcasing learning both as generic competencies in a broad sense and higher-order competencies in particular.Originality/valueThe literature indicates higher education institutes' activities beyond classroom teaching enhance students' campus and community relationships. This study measures these engagements' outcomes and suggests new research dimensions in student engagement.

»Man är liksom alltid mittemellan på något sätt»

This article explores interview material of migrants’ experiences of borders from a minority perspective. The analysis focuses on the migrants’ own interpretations of their move, using the theoretical categories of performative borders (Rumford 2014) and emerging adults (Arnett 2004) as analytical tools to gain an understanding of what it means to be a young Finland-Swedish migrant in Sweden in the 2010s. Linguistic, national and cultural borders are discussed. Given the privileged position of the migrants, the institutionalised national border is relatively absent from the material. Instead, a very tangible border that appears is the language border, especially between Swedish and Finnish. For the interviewees, this linguistic border does not coincide with the national border as they are moving to an area where their mother tongue is transitioning from minority to majority status. Cultural borders can be seen as flexible, invisible boundaries within which people believe that they share cultural expressions and values, and thus identity (Fjellström 1997). Respondents refer to boundaries drawn by perceived cultural similarities and differences. All these boundaries are created by the media, experiences, other people’s stories, and stereotypes. The interviewees begin by drawing on their own experiences of moving from Finland to Sweden, but at the same time these experiences are constantly linked to other stories, past experiences, and perceptions. By addressing performative boundaries, the focus is on how personal experience, conveyed through narrative, expresses experiences of belonging and exclusion – something that is actualised through both minority and migrant status.

A Study on College English Teaching Reform of Ideological and Political Education in the Curriculum to Improve Undergraduates’ Intercultural Communicative Competence

Traditional college English classes pay more attention to students’ language knowledge and skills, but not enough attention to their intercultural communicative competence, which makes many students unable to effectively carry out intercultural communicative and exchange. From the perspective of ideological and political education in the curriculum, this paper discusses how to integrate this concept into college English teaching design organically, and how to adopt educational drama mode to make innovative attempts on existing college English classroom activities, so as to help students better understand Chinese and Western cultures, guide them to correctly view cultural differences, and cultivate their intercultural awareness and ability.

Interview: Reflections on Three Decades of Islamic Nonviolence

Abstract This article comprises a discussion with Prof. Mohammed Abu-Nimer, a trailblazer in the field of Peace Studies focusing on Islam and Muslim communities. It explores Prof. Abu-Nimer's reflections on the development of this field over the past three decades. It focuses in particular on methodological, institutional, and inter-cultural challenges and developments during that time. Like Prof. Abu-Nimer's long career, it is international in scope and explores convergences and divergences in the experiences and discourses surrounding Muslim-led nonviolent resistance, peacemaking and peacebuilding initiatives in the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. It also includes discussion of the role played by cultural difference and hybridity in translating the distinct peace and nonviolence repertoires of Western and non-Western cultural and political contexts.

Видеоигры как социальный институт: различные аспекты институционализации

This article examines video games and game journalism as social institutions. The author proposes to move away from the fragmented perception of the gaming industry, looking at it as an interconnection of cultural, social, economic and political processes. Particular attention is paid to the regulation of video games by the state, the emergence of gamers’ own language, cultural differences between developers and narratives in games as indicators of institutionalization. In addition to the above, an attempt is made to understand the culture of participation, publicity and mass participation as factors of institutionalization that allowed the video game industry to emerge from the status of entertainment. The problems associated with the institutionalization of video games are also briefly touched upon: new ethics, social responsibility, the problem of commercial success, censorship and unification. In conclusion, the article analyzes the possibility of using an institutional approach to video games in future research, and outlines the prospects for a comprehensive study of their impact on society and the state.

Cross-Linguistic and Multicultural Considerations in Evaluating Bilingual Adults With Aphasia.

The current study delineated a clinical and theoretical framework that clinicians and researchers can use to guide the assessment of bilingual aphasia at morphosyntactic, lexical-semantic, and phonological levels of language processing. This tutorial outlines cross-linguistic and multicultural considerations that should be addressed in evaluating bilingual adults with aphasia (BWAs). At the morphosyntactic level, we presented three features that should be taken into account when evaluating linguistic symptoms in languages considering whether they are typologically similar or dissimilar: word order, pro(noun)-drop, and morphological inflections of verbs. We suggest that clinicians need to conduct additional error analyses that reflect typological differences in syntactic templates, argument-deletion phenomena, and morphological inflections to better understand linguistic characteristics of impairments arising from the interactions of the two languages that may differ in many ways. At the lexical-semantic level, we addressed three cross-linguistic features that may impact naming performance in BWAs: cognates, lexical frequency, and semantic typicality. The presence of cognates between the two languages can lead to differential interpretations of naming performance. In addition, the same lexical items may exhibit varying lexical frequency and typicality across languages due to cultural and linguistic differences. We suggest that clinicians should thoroughly prepare the testing items considering the linguistic distance. Finally, we emphasized differences in segmental and suprasegmental features of phonology that could contribute to cross-linguistic phenomena during assessment of two or more languages. This cross-linguistic assessment framework contributes to a better understanding of linguistic impairments and communication difficulties experienced by BWAs. This framework can be utilized in current clinical practice to facilitate culturally and linguistically appropriate assessment and treatment approaches for BWAs.

Cross-cultural comparison of the neural correlates of true and false memory retrieval

ABSTRACT Prior work has shown Americans have higher levels of memory specificity than East Asians. Neuroimaging studies have not investigated mechanisms that account for cultural differences at retrieval. In this study, we use fMRI to assess whether mnemonic discrimination, distinguishing novel from previously encountered stimuli, accounts for cultural differences in memory. Fifty-five American and 55 Taiwanese young adults completed an object recognition paradigm testing discrimination of old targets, similar lures and novel foils. Mnemonic discrimination was tested by comparing discrimination of similar lures from studied targets, and results showed the relationship between activity in right fusiform gyrus and behavioural discrimination between target and lure objects differed across cultural groups. Parametric modulation analyses of activity during lure correct rejections also indicated that groups differed in left superior parietal cortex response to variations in lure similarity. Additional analyses of old vs. new activity indicated that Americans and Taiwanese differ in the neural activity supporting general object recognition in the hippocampus, left inferior frontal gyrus and middle frontal gyrus. Results are juxtaposed against comparisons of the regions activated in common across the two cultures. Overall, Americans and Taiwanese differ in the extent to which they recruit visual processing and attention modulating brain regions.

A Comparative Study of China and U.S.: The Influence of Digital Divide on Education Inequality and Its Mitigating Policies

Under the digital age, the method of learning expanded to the virtual setting. With resources shared through online platforms, digital divide became a new problem in achieving education equality. This paper intends to examine the effect of digital divide on educational system in the U.S. and China from a comparative perspective. This study adopts literature review as its research method. Types of digital divide that occurs in the two countries showcase some similarities, yet the factors attributing to the educational digital divide varies widely. Educational divide exists in different social groups. Systematic and cultural differences are the root behind these factors. In the U.S., digital divide occurred due to differences at multiple levels: race, state, schools, and family SES. In China, digital divide occurs due to geological divergence, generational division, and social class. The root Moreover, mitigating policies from the two countries illustrate how the U.S. and China access the issue from different perspective. The root behind such contrast is the difference in the two countries social system and cultural attitudes. The two countries can inspire each other and the world in creating better solutions to solve this new form of education inequality.

GERMAN AND ALBANIAN PROVERBS IN THE INTERCULTURAL CONTEXT

Proverbs have an important role in the acquirement of German as a foreign language. The easiest way to present a cross-cultural comparison of proverbs is the onomasiological approach. In this study, I will attempt to show the names of animals as an element of indication of the similarities and differences between the German language and Albanian (Pferd/(kalë), Hund/(qen), Bär/(ari), etc.). The examples presented will clarify that in both languages there are characteristics and physical attributes of animals as well as their use by people that serve as a motive in the creation of proverbs. Therefore, we often encounter similarities and differences. Moreover, we will start from the German proverbs that reveal even more the comparison between the German and Albanian languages, since identity and idiomatic transformation represent the arbitrary process of naming as well as their cultural similarities and differences. What is particularly interesting for a cross-cultural comparison are the idiomatically transformed Albanian equivalents of proverbs in the German language. In Albanian, when some idiomatic transformations of animal names are replaced, the other components vary.

Challenges Encountered during the Interpretation and Translation of the Sermons in the Pentecostal Churches in Vihiga County

This study sought to analyse challenges encountered during interpreting and translating of sermons in the Pentecostal churches in Vihiga County. Interpretation and translation are a reflective professional undertaking fraught with linguistics challenges. The challenge is pronounced during sermon delivery in Pentecostal churches, where untrained volunteer interpreters and translators predominantly undertake interpretation and translation. Marianne’s Interpretive Theory of Translation guided the study. The descriptive research design was employed, and the target population consisted of the clergy, translators, interpreters and congregants drawn from the Pentecostal churches in Vihiga County. Purposive sampling was used to select five preachers, interpreters, translators and congregants from five Pentecostal churches in Vihiga County. Audio-video recording, guided interviews and structured observations were adopted to collect data. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic content. The results showed that the interpreters and translators faced numerous challenges during sermon interpretation and translation. The challenges included inadequate language and biblical knowledge, the use of complex terminologies, pronunciation problems and unpredictable preaching styles, insufficient preparation, cultural differences and inability to fulfil community language expectations, lengthy utterances and prolonged elicitations, the use of independent and non-contextual translation and lack of synonyms for different linguistic features. It is recommended that interpreters and translators undergo adequate training in interpretation and translation to enhance their ability to deal with the dynamics of translation and interpretation of the sermons in Pentecostal churches.

Budaya dalam Adaptasi Komunikasi Bisnis Global Penggemar K-Pop melalui Media Sosial

One exciting innovation relevant to the research context is the current K-Pop phenomenon that has penetrated the field of intercultural business communication and involves transactions from two or more countries. Because of that, this research aims to find out how intercultural business communication occurs in the context of global business among K-Pop fans. The informant in this study is one of the K-Pop merchandise warehouse service providers in Indonesia. This research is qualitative research with a case study method. Data collection methods were obtained through interviews with informants. The results of this study show the importance of culture in business communication adaptation to overcome cultural differences in global business and also admit the challenges faced, such as language differences, business norms, and technological barriers

PERSONAL BRANDING: DIAGNOSTIC MODEL AND PROCESS FOR ENHANCING THE PERSONAL BRAND

The proposed research aims to explore the influence of self-knowledge on personal brand management, based on the Personal Branding Questionnaire adapted for Brazilian culture. The study aims to validate the hypothesis that there is a positive correlation between the understanding of values, beliefs and purposes and the development of an effective positioning, as the professional deepens their self-knowledge. The methodology included a systematic review of the literature and the cross-cultural adaptation of the questionnaire, taking into account the cultural differences between Brazil and Portugal, based on Meyer's 8-dimension Model (2015). After applying the questionnaire to 56 professionals from different areas and implementing a structured personal branding model, the questionnaire was reapplied to evaluate the impact of the process. The results showed an increase in the perception of the importance of personal branding after the intervention, confirming that self-knowledge is fundamental for the effective management of the personal brand. The study proposes the Personal Branding Step by Step model to facilitate the diagnosis and enhancement of the personal brand, suggesting future research focusing on neuroplasticity, emotional intelligence and behavioral profile to complement the model.

Construction of TCM Institution Image: A Corpus-Based Comparative Critical Discourse Study of Chinese and Western Mainstream Media Reports

This study conducts a corpus-assisted comparative analysis of the media images of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) institutions in Chinese and Western media contexts. Applying Fairclough’s three-dimensional critical discourse analysis (CDA) model alongside the TCM Social Image Evaluation Index System, this study explores media image construction and ideological factors shaping the perception of TCM institutions globally through an analysis of linguistic features in keywords, evaluative collocates and modal verbs. It’s found that Chinese media present TCM institutions in a positive light, depicting them as multifaceted organizations with a rich cultural legacy and robust capabilities in medical and scientific research. They showcase TCM institutions as cooperative, promising in integration with modern healthcare, efficient, rapid, flexible, innovative, and imbued with humanitarian values especially during the COVID-19 epidemic. Western media, however, adopt a more cautious stance. They tend to frame TCM institutions as providers of alternative medicine and temporary solutions, with a focus on health preservation, leisure and overall well-being. Concerns have also been raised about the potential illicit activities associated with some massage schools. These disparities in presenting TCM institutions reflect cultural, political and audience demand differences between China and the West. The results of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the media portrayal of TCM institutions, provide insights into the challenges facing the global recognition and acceptance of TCM institutions, and suggest strategies for Chinese media, TCM practitioners, and policymakers to enhance their international image.

Toward a more culturally nuanced approach to assessing athletic and exercise identities in sport psychology research: a confirmatory factor analysis approach with South Korean male student-athletes

ABSTRACT The identities of “athlete” and “exerciser” share conceptual similarities but can be differentiated by the ways in which their respective objectives, motivations, and intentions significantly diverge. However, there is a gap in the literature addressing the ambiguity and inconsistent use of these terms in the context of South Korea. The linguistic discrepancy in how these terms are conceptualised and operationalised has important implications for the study of athletes’ long-term health and well-being, where a nuanced perspective on identity is necessary for understanding physical activity behaviour and health outcomes through the transition out of competitive sport. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to refine the terminology used in the previously translated versions of the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale and Exercise Identity Scale and examine whether refined questionnaires appropriately represent similar but distinct concepts. Using software program R, this aim was addressed through a two-factor confirmatory factor analysis of the measurement scales within a sample of South Korean male student-athletes (N = 232, Mage = 19.93 ± 1.22 years). Global fit indices of the final model demonstrated acceptable fit χ2 (101) = 208.512, p < .01, CFI = .95, RMSEA = .07 (90% Confidence Interval: .06 – .08), SRMR = .06 and the local fit indices further supported convergent and discriminant validity of the scales within the sample. Recognition of cultural differences and nuances related to the terms “athlete” vs. “exerciser” and “sport” vs. “exercise” is important for fostering a comprehensive understanding of these identities within sport and exercise psychology research.

"Doing the right thing": Moral conflicts and ethical issues experienced by military nurses during wartime.

The War on Terrorism, which included Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014 and the concurrent Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) from 2003 to 2011, exposed military nurses to situations and challenges for which many reported feeling unprepared. Clinically, nurses faced multi-trauma injuries and devastating wounds suffered by military troops and civilians alike. Cultural issues and harsh living conditions added further complications to the care environment. The purpose of this study was to address the research question: How do military nurses identify, assess, manage, and personally resolve ethical issues occurring in nursing practice during wartime deployments? Qualitative grounded theory provided the design for this study. Using the constant comparative method, data collection, and data analysis occurred simultaneously to build a theory of ethical issues management during wartime. Using a focused interview guide responsive to emerging themes and developing theory, interviews were conducted until theoretical saturation was achieved. Participants represented primarily Army (55%) active duty (83%) female nurses (71%) who had deployed to Iraq (52%), Afghanistan (32%), or both (16%). A sampling grid was used to recruit nurses representative of the demographics deployed in support of OIF and OEF. Data analysis usedgrounded theory methods to identify a core construct to detail proposed relationships and concepts. Rigor was maintained in study methods and analysis using established tenets to support trustworthiness. The nurses shared stories regarding their experiences during deployment. Many struggled to find internal resolutions regarding the care of detainees, cultural differences, end-of-life decision-making, pain management, and care of civilian casualties. The study described the ethical issues military nurses encountered during wartime and the strategies used to mitigate moral conflict. By better understanding how nurses define, assess, and manage ethical situations, we can better prepare our deploying nurses for future conflicts. Military nurses returning from wars with unresolved moral conflicts are at risk for moral distress. Moral distress has been associated with burnout, dissatisfaction with and leaving the nursing profession, compassion fatigue, and disinterest in the provision of quality patient care. In the interest of preserving the health of military nurses, steps need to be taken to provide resources for helping them prepare for, encounter, and cope with the ethical situations inherent in wartime nursing care.

Definitions of Ageing According to the Perspective of the Psychology of Ageing: A Scoping Review.

We conducted a review of the literature through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases, and we followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, analysing papers written in English between 2002 and 2023. The review showed different conceptual models of ageing, including Rowe and Kahn's successful ageing model, the World Health Organization's models, and others like the "Selection, Optimization and Compensation" Model. Also, the determinants and predictors of ageing have been analysed highlighting the individual variability and the multidimensional nature of ageing. The geographic diversity of the included studies allowed for the analysis of cultural, socioeconomic, and environmental differences in the conceptualisation of ageing. The results emphasise the importance of targeted interventions and programs aimed at promoting well-being during ageing, considering the complexity and multidimensionality of the ageing process.

What is a compassionate face? Avoided negative affect explains differences between U.S. Americans and Chinese

ABSTRACT While a compassionate face for Germans mirrors others’ suffering, for U.S. Americans, a compassionate face is one that expresses a slight smile, partly because U.S. Americans want to avoid feeling negative (“avoided negative affect”; ANA) more than do Germans. The present work examines what people in a non-WEIRD (i.e. Chinese) cultural context think a compassionate face looks like. Additionally, it investigates whether an individually-measured cultural variable (i.e. ANA) can explain differences in conceptualisations of compassion between Chinese and U.S. Americans. Participants in China and the U.S. selected the face that most resembles a compassionate face in a reverse correlation task and completed a measure of ANA. As predicted, Chinese mental representations of a compassionate face included more sadness and less happiness compared to U.S. American mental representations of a compassionate face, and Chinese participants wanted to avoid feeling negative less than did U.S. Americans. Finally, ANA mediated the cultural differences in conceptualisations of compassion. We discuss how ANA and conceptualisations of compassion might be related to how people view the experience versus the expression of different emotions. This work has important implications for therapeutic settings and the meaning of compassion in an increasingly globalised and connected world.

A real-world study on the treatment of extremely preterm infants: a multi-center study in southwest area of Fujian Province in China

BackgroundDue to regional and cultural differences, the current status of extremely preterm infants(EPIs) treatment across different areas of mainland China remains unclear. This study investigated the survival rate and incidence of major diseases among EPIs in the southwest area of Fujian province.MethodThis retrospective and multicenter study collected perinatal data from EPIs with gestational ages between 22–27+ 6w and born in the southwest area of Fujian province. The study population was divided into 6 groups based on gestational age at delivery. The primary outcome was the survival status at ordered hospital discharge or correct gestational age of 40 weeks, and the secondary outcome was the incidence of major diseases. The study analyzed the actual survival status of EPIs in the area.ResultA total of 2004 preterm infants with gestational ages of 22–27+ 6 weeks were enrolled in this study. Among them, 1535 cases (76.6%) were born in the delivery room but did not survive, 469 cases (23.4%) were transferred to the neonatal department for treatment, 101 cases (5.0%) received partial treatment, and 368 cases (18.4%) received complete treatment. The overall all-cause mortality rate was 84.4% (1691/2004). The survival rate and survival rate without major serious disease for EPIs who received complete treatment were 85.1% (313/368) and 31.5% (116/318), respectively. The survival rates for gestational ages 22–22+ 6w, 23–23+ 6w, 24–24+ 6w, 25–25+ 6w, 26–26+ 6w, and 27–27+ 6w were 0%, 0%, 59.1% (13/22), 83% (39/47), 88.8% (87/98), and 89.7% (174/198), respectively. The survival rates without major serious disease were 0%, 0%, 9.1% (2/22), 19.1% (9/47), 27.6% (27/98), and 40.2% (78/194), respectively.ConclusionThe all-cause mortality of EPIs in the southwest area of Fujian Province remains high, with a significant number of infants were given up after birth in the delivery room being the main influencing factor. The survival rate of EPIs who received complete treatment at 25–27 weeks in the NICU was similar to that in developed countries. However, the survival rate without major serious disease was significantly lower compared to high-income countries.